The estimated direct economic output of the technology industry is $1.6 trillion, which comprises 9.2 percent of the United States’ economy, according to CyberstatesTM,1. And the technology industry isn’t stopping at $1.6 trillion. “The outlook for technology employment points to a continuation of the growth trend.... Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate the base of tech occupations will increase by 626,000 jobs by 2026,” stated CompTIA.2
An increasing number of technology applications in the business and consumer world is driving that growth - and also means that tech companies are dealing with increasingly large numbers of customers. Those customers are paying top dollar for complex products that need to be regularly updated. Unfortunately, as complexity and updates accelerate, product use becomes more difficult. Technology customers understand the value of the products they are purchasing, but they won’t see that value if they can’t use the technology effectively.
Training end users will be essential in bridging the gap between purchase and value. It will also be challenging for technology companies that don’t have the right tools. Companies in this sector will find that a learning management system is ideal for delivering effective technology training. An LMS:
By using an LMS to train your customers on how to use your products, you help ensure that customers’ needs are met, which increases customer satisfaction and retention.4 Here are a few practical ways tech companies can use a learning management system to successfully train end users:
1. Create online product-and-service education courses -- Technology companies, especially SaaS providers, rely on customer renewals. One of the primary reasons customers don’t renew is because they don’t get the results they’re looking for from the product - often due to a lack education about tech products and how to achieve results.
By creating eLearning courses about your technology company’s offerings, you can deliver education that encourages customer renewals and builds client loyalty. An LMS increases the accessibility of these courses for all users via mobile learning and intuitive UI designs.
2. Assign end users to social learning communities -- An LMS has the ability to bring a sense of community to individuals who work remotely as well as product users who work at different companies and wouldn’t normally interact. Social learning communities, which are created with LMS social learning tools, enable end users to help one another with any challenges that might arise during technology training through informal knowledge sharing. Within these social learning communities end users will become more engaged and productive.
Bringing users together in online communities that promote collaboration can increase tech skills, foster innovation, and encourage creative thinking. It also benefits technology companies since “shared learning can help facilitate cross-team working and allow for transference of skills, building a more knowledgeable and ultimately efficient workforce,” per eCom Scotland.5
3. Offer certification programs and subscriptions -- Over time, your clients’ teams will undergo significant changes. Seasoned users will move up in your company or pursue other opportunities, taking their knowledge of product nuances, features, and processes with them. When the new users who replace them aren’t properly trained, knowledge is lost, which can lead to poor product use and declining value.
Use your LMS to train to progressively changing workforces by creating certification programs that get new users quickly up to speed with their peers. Adding optional paid programs and subscriptions promotes proper handovers and increases your tech company’s earning potential. Certification programs support technology training for your customers, helping them easily see who is knowledgeable about your products.
Related Reading: 6 Benefits of an LMS for Large Companies.
When it comes to technology training your customers need accessible, helpful information that helps them get results from your products. If you want to see an increase in customer satisfaction and retention, as well as revenue, it may be time to start training end users with an LMS.
References:
1. Cyberstates. 2018 tech industry, job market, and salary trends analysis. https://www.cyberstates.org.
2. CompTIA. Technology industry’s impact felt in the US economic growth, workforce gains. https://www.comptia.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/2018/03/27/technology-industry-s-impact-felt-in-us-economic-growth-workforce-gains.
3. eLearning Industry. The top 8 benefits of using learning management systems. https://elearningindustry.com/top-8-benefits-of-using-learning-management-systems.
4. Expertus. Customer satisfaction tops list of reasons to train customers. https://www.expertus.com/customer-satisfaction-tops-list-of-reasons-to-train-customers/.
5. eCom Scotland. Infographic: Benefits of Collaborative Learning. https://www.ecomscotland.com/resources/infographic-benefits-of-collaborative-learning/.